Reversibly magnetically closeable sensor housing

Abstract

A sensor housing includes: a sensor body with at least one primary retainer arranged in the sensor body; a sensor cover with at least one secondary retainer, the sensor cover configured for arrangement on the sensor body such that the primary retainer and the secondary retainer are enclosed in the sensor body; and a locking unit including at least one locking element configured for releasably connecting the primary retainer and the secondary retainer, wherein the locking element includes a magnetizable material or a magnetic material and is mounted movably between a locking position, in which the locking element locks the primary retainer with the secondary retainer, and an opposing release position, such that the locking element can be moved between the locking position and the release position by an applied magnetic field.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor housing, comprising:
 a sensor body including a primary retainer disposed in the sensor body;   a sensor cover including a secondary retainer, wherein the sensor body and the sensor cover are complementarily configured such that the sensor body is rotated relative to the sensor cover to close and open the sensor housing, wherein the secondary retainer is a circumferential groove in a wall of the sensor cover; and   a locking unit including a locking element configured to releasably connect the primary retainer and the secondary retainer,   wherein the locking element comprises a magnetizable material or a magnetic material and is mounted movably between a locking position, in which the locking element locks the primary retainer relative to the secondary retainer as to prevent rotation and separation of the sensor cover relative to the sensor housing, and a release position, in which the locking element does not lock the primary retainer relative to the secondary retainer, such that the sensor housing can be opened and the sensor cover separated from the sensor body,   wherein the locking element is configured to be moved between the locking position and the release position by an applied magnetic field.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor housing of  claim 1 , wherein the locking unit comprises a securing element configured to move the locking element from the release position to the locking position and/or to hold the locking element in the locking position. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor housing of  claim 2 , wherein the securing element comprises a spring element or a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor housing of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an internal magnetic field source comprising an electrical coil; and   a control unit connected to the electrical coil,   wherein the electric coil is adapted to be controlled by the control unit as to generate a magnetic field that extends to at least cover the locking element as to move the locking element to the release position.   
     
     
         5 . The sensor housing of  claim 3 , wherein the securing element comprises a compression spring. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor housing of  claim 2 , wherein the primary retainer is a ridge of the sensor body that is complementary to the secondary retainer of the sensor cover. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor housing of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor housing of  claim 1 , wherein the locking securing element is an annular spring element configured for moving the locking element from the release position to the locking position and/or to hold the locking element in the locking position. 
     
     
         9 . The sensor housing of  claim 8 , wherein the locking element includes two opposing permanent magnets fastened to the annular spring element. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor housing of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor body includes a first thread, and the sensor cover includes a second thread complementary to the first thread, or
 wherein the sensor body includes a first bayonet closure component, and the sensor cover includes a second bayonet closure component complementary to the first bayonet closure component.   
     
     
         11 . The sensor housing of  claim 1 , further comprising an identification feature disposed on an exterior of the sensor housing and configured to indicate the location of the locking element in the sensor housing. 
     
     
         12 . A sensor housing module, comprising:
 a sensor housing according to  claim 1 ; and   an external magnetic field source, wherein the external magnetic field source comprises a permanent magnet or an electrical coil.